venus: walking in serena’s swimsuit footsteps + what to expect from eleVen in 2009

As we wrote about earlier, Venus Williams will be participating in the BNP Paribas Showdon at MSG next month, vying for $1.2 million in prize money to be split among her, sister Serena, and Serbians Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.

“I’m hoping for an all-Williams final,” she told the press today. She’s also looking forward to playing at the storied tennis venue for the first time since the 1999 WTA year-ending championships.

In light of tennis’ contribution in this year’s SI swimsuit issue, TSF asked Venus about her own experience posing for the magazine, back in 2005.

“I did it because Serena did it,” Venus shared. “I want to be like her.”

But in the end the fashion isn’t the higest priority. “I like tennis more than anything. I would give up all the clothes and makeup for tennis.”

Even so, gallivanting in the sand sounds like a lot of fun. Would she consider giving it another shot?

“I would do it if Serena did it.” (C’mon, Serena — take your sister up on the offer!)

And Venus will soon fly to Dubai and participate in the Barclays tourney.

The American No. 2 (second only to her sister) gave us a small taste of what to expect from her EleVen outfits for the upcoming tennis season. She’ll wear more prints, perhaps taking another cue from Serena, who did the same for the Australian Open in January.

More info: The BNP Paribas Showdown, March 2, 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets ranging from $1,000 to $50 available at ticketmaster.com. The event will be shown live on HBO (7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT) and will be called by Mary Carillo, Billie Jean King, and John McEnroe. This marks the first time since 1999 that the premium channel has broadcast a tennis event; they carried Wimbledon from 1975-1999.